'Winger Denis Hamel, the Amerks’ best player through four games, headed to Buffalo after the game but still could play for Rochester tonight in Hershey, Pa. Hamel stayed behind as the Amerks departed by bus for Hershey because a minor injury could keep an unnamed Sabres forward out of tonight’s home game with Phoenix.'

'Krys Kolanos would give almost anything to be here, though. He has a little score to settle with Vaclav Varada of the Buffalo Sabres, the Coyotes' opponent tonight at HSBC Arena. It was Varada, the Sabres' roughhouse right wing, who is responsible for the Coyotes' young center convalescing at his parents' home in Calgary, Alberta, today instead of being with his teammates.'

'The Sabres still have an awfully long road to travel. They need to be more consistent on both ends of the rink. They need someone to have a breakout year on offense, and they need Martin Biron to play well in goal. For crying out loud, they still need to find an owner. This is still a team that still has to overachieve to make the playoffs. But there is hope.'